Stories for April 29th 2017

The US economy slowed dramatically in the first three months of the year, according to official data. GDP expanded at an annual rate of 0.7% in the first quarter - the slowest rate since the first quarter of 2014, which is unwelcome news for President Donald Trump who, during his election campaign, made a pledge to raise growth to 4%.

Shadow Foreign Secretary Emily Thornberry has strongly suggested that the Labour manifesto, to be launched on 15 May, will make clear that the disputed Falkland Islands will remain British for as long as those living there want to be, according to Politics Home

European Union countries are meeting in Brussels to discuss a joint strategy for negotiations with the UK over Brexit. Twenty-seven countries will be present, but the UK will not take part. The EU will insist that progress must be made in talks on separating the UK from the EU, before any discussions can begin about future trade relations. Official talks between London and the EU will not begin until after the UK general election on 8 June.

Violence has erupted in Brazil at the end the country's first general strike in more than 20 years. Buses and cars have been set on fire in Rio de Janeiro's city centre while roads blocks set up by activists were also ablaze and some shops were vandalized.

The Argentine foreign ministry confirmed that 95 families from the 123 Argentine unknown combatants buried at Falkland Islands' Darwin Cemetery have consented to the identification of remains, a task to be undertaken by the International Red Cross, allegedly beginning next 19 June.